Croxley (Away)

							Man of the Match Jon Kendal
							Starting Team
							GK	Pratt, Lawrence
							DL	McDonald, Matt	S1 (69')
							DR	Whittaker, Steve
							DC	Powell, Adam
							DC	Pouncey, Steve
							MR	Kendal, Jon
							ML	Konkoly, Zoltan
							MC	Kumar, Will
							MC	Baxter, Scott
							F	Gunning, Tom
							F	Gray, Allan
							S1	Wyatt, Rich

Date: Saturday 21st October '06         
Time: 10:30                                             
Competition: League
Location: Away (Durrants Sports Ground) 


Croxley Baptist Church                5 (2)
  

St Albans Romans                         6 (2)
  Kendal (2)
  Gunning
  Konkoly
  Powell
  Gray

Match Report

Goals! Goals! Goals! How Do Ya Like It? How Do Ya Like It?

With last seasons two best teams meeting for the first time this season, most pundits had this down as a tight low scoring affair. Instead the travelling Yarmy Army were treated to as many goals as the entire Saturday Premiership fixture list could muster.

(Warning if you don't want to hear the final score look away now).

6-5 to the Romans!

(You can look now).

Now we've managed to score 6 twice already this season and even contrived to concede 5, so it was a bit of a shock to repeat both feats in the one game (Mr Hansen would have still been running through the defensive footage as MOTD went
on air!).

Less than 5 minutes in and the lively Croxley were one up following a "slip" by the Chavster. 10 minutes later and it was 2-0 following a set piece that cut off Gunning mid-banter.

Two minutes from the restart and after good work from Gunning (hand in goal Kumar) Kendal did what he's been doing all season. 2-1.

Romans kept pressing and Kendall returned the favour (hand in goal Kumar) as Gunning levelled it with a simple finish.

A lucky 2-2 at half-time then (especially considering the Roy Carroll moment from Chavster) but at least we showed we haven't lost any of last seasons bouncebackability.

Second half and a missed header by Pouncey 5 minutes in saw the home side re-take the lead.

With the Gaffer warming up Wyatt to replace a subdued Zoltan, the Hungarian decided to beat his full back and beat the keeper at the near post with a low powerful drive. 3-3 and Romans started to get a little bit of control. (Keep warming up Wyatt!)

On 66 minutes Gunning released Kendal and this time, having managed to twist himself into the wrong position he back-heeled the ball past a rather surprised keeper (and sideline)!

Romans were ahead for the first time in the game but it only took Croxley 3 minutes to make it 4-4 with a cross that Chavster thought "was going to be a shot", so why didn't you? (oh nevermind)!

With the defence having struggled all game against Croxley's far post corner routine, it was somewhat ironic that Romans took the lead again with a copycat kick finished with a fine header by Powell on 76 mins.

5-4 and only 14 left but none of the crowd were leaving. With nine minutes to go another long ball was watched by the Romans back four as Croxley's forward swanned through to crash the ball past a helpless Chavster.

Almost straight from the restart MOTM Kendall released Gray who won the game with a glorious finish in the 82nd minute.

With Croxley throwing the kitchen sink, Gunning was told to stop bantering and had a storming last 10 in the heart of a suddenly solid looking defence.

Bit fortunate to take all three points but this could well turn out to be a vital win at the end of the season.